Washington, D.C.—  Today, Congressman Brian Baird (WA-03) continued to fight for Southwest Washington by voting to extend state and local sales tax deductibility for Washington State residents, and voting to create jobs  and spark economic growth by helping pass The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.  

Congressman Baird has been a long-time champion of sales tax deductibility for Washington State.  Today’s passage of The American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act, H.R. 4213, ensures that Washingtonians will be able to take advantage of state and local sales tax deductibility for another year on their federal tax returns.

“I would have liked to have seen sales tax deductibility for Washington State residents become a permanent part of the nation’s tax code,” said Congressman Baird.  “However, I am gratified to know that our hard work means that Washington taxpayers will be able to save more than $380 million in total deductions next year.”

Congressman Baird is a co-sponsor of The America COMPETES Act, H.R. 5116, which strengthens U.S. economic and scientific leadership and creates short-, mid- and long-term jobs by investing in science, innovation, and education.

“For more than a century, the U.S. has been on the cutting edge of technological innovation.  This legislation will keep the U.S. number one in technology for the 21st Century without having to rely on China and India,” Congressman Baird said.  “We must reassert our economic and technological leadership to keep good-paying jobs here at home.”

The America COMPETES Act fosters American innovation through research and development, invests in modernizing manufacturing, and strengthens math and science education.  H.R. 5116 improves science and math education by reauthorizing programs that help teachers present real world applications of their lessons to their students.  The bill also doubles the path of basic research programs within the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology over the next ten years.  

The landmark America COMPETES Act also helps cultivate innovation in new energy technology by reauthorizing the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), which pursues high risk/high reward clean energy research. The bill also creates Innovative Technology Federal Loan Guarantees that will help small- and medium-sized manufactures access capital so they can make upgrades to improve efficiency and stay competitive.  “I can’t say enough positive things about ARPA-E ,” Congressman Baird said.  “It challenges this nation’s brightest minds to conduct state-of-the-art energy research that will make the U.S. the global leader in energy technology.”    

Over 750 organizations have endorsed the America COMPETES Act including the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Information Technology Industry Council, the American Chemical Society, the Council on Competitiveness, and the National Venture Capital Association.